Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2017 is "Earth and Human Activity." This year's event, the 20th annual Earth Science Week celebration, promotes awareness of what geoscience tells us about human interaction with the planet's natural systems and processes.

 

Earth Science Week 2017 learning resources and activities are engaging young people and others in exploring the relationship between human activity and the geosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (life). This year's theme promotes public understanding and stewardship the planet, especially in terms of the ways people affect and are affected by these Earth systems.

 

"Human activity has a huge impact on Earth, and the possibilities open to humanity are, in turn, shaped by Earth's natural processes," says Geoff Camphire, AGI's Manager of Outreach. "The geosciences are essential for understanding how we can make the most of opportunities and manage challenges offered in areas such as energy, technology, climate change, the environment, natural disasters, industry, agriculture, recreation, and tourism."

 

To mark the occasion of the 20th annual Earth Science Week, AGI and key program partners are launching a slate of new initiatives, materials, and other offerings for participants throughout the year. Details will be announced in the coming months.

 

Reaching over 50 million people annually, AGI leads Earth Science Week in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each October, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth.

 

Earth Science Week is supported by many organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey; the AAPG Foundation; National Park Service; NASA; Esri; Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; Geological Society of America; American Geophysical Union; Association of American State Geologists; AmericaView; Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and Archeological Institute of America.

 

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Reaching over 50 million people annually, Earth Science Week has been led by AGI in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community since 1998. Earth Science Week 2017 will be celebrated October 8-14, 2017. To learn more, please visit www.earthsciweek.org. To order Toolkits, please visit www.earthsciweek.org/materials. You may also call AGI Publications to place your order at 703-379-2480.

 

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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.